(Bradenton, FL; 10/21/2000) Patrick McGinnis of Bradenton claimed the Shootout win in the Selective HR Solutions Sportsman 50-lap feature event at Desoto Speedway last Saturday evening. McGinnis came out blazing for the feature event, running a 15.67 (86 mph) lap time in the time trials, and with the luck of the draw pulled the pole position. It was all the Bradenton Bullet needed.

"I didn't expect to be here tonight," said an elated McGinnis, who recorded his first ever feature win. "I had a long night and day. I was just glad to be here."

Although challenged throughout the race, McGinnis drove a near perfect race, holding off a hard-running Lonnie Miller until a tap from the rear sent McGinnis into a spin. After the caution flag, McGinnis got the lead back and Miller was sent to rear. Then along came Wayne Metcalf of Myakka City to pressure McGinnis, riding his rear bumper to the checkered flag.

"We had a good time," Metcalf said. "Time was short after the caution, I looked up and it was lap 48. I tried."

Gus Coorssen of Sarasota dusted off his red #41 and took third place. "It's been a while," exclaimed Coorssen. "I had part of my Port Charlotte setup on, but it seemed to work out pretty good. The brakes went out, but all-in-all it wasn't too bad. Next time, I think I'll put on power steering."

In the Callaghan Tire Open-Wheel Modified 50-lap feature, Teddy Nelson of Pinellas Park blazed from last place to the winner's circle. "I worked for this one," Nelson said. "I began to work on the car at nine this morning, then came here. It started getting a little tight; it usually gets loose. But, my dad kept me calm on the radio and I kept digging to see what I could do with it. I thought we'd have to settle for second."

Nelson shot under a drifting Pat Nanney to take the lead on lap 48 and hang on for the win. "We almost hung on," Nanney said. "I didn't know he was there. The next thing I know I got around a lap car and he got underneath me. I slid up and couldn't quite get it back down. It was a good race, and the first time we had a good finish. I think the car will be here for the rest of the year." Nanney, from Bradenton, placed second and Jamie Burrows of Valrico took home third.

Wallace Ramsey of Bradenton roared to the winner's circle in the Express Personnel Service Street Stock feature event. He had a few words for an injured friend, Fred Wagner, who suffered cracked vertebrae in an accident last week but was on hand to watch the races.

"Fred Wagner, this one is for you," Ramsey said after his first ever feature win. "Actually, the car was real loose in the warm-ups, but we kind of tightened it up a little and here we are." Casey Hall of Tampa took second, and Dennis Wilson, Jr. of Bradenton placed third.

Ed Kratzert of Bradenton claimed his second straight win in the Contemporary Cabinetry & Closet Concepts Pure Stock feature event. "Mark (Gill) had a good run tonight, but I kept on his back door until he made a little mistake," Kratzert said. "This is my second one so I guess my luck at the end of the year is hanging in there." Mark Gill of Bradenton placed second, and David Yahraus of Sarasota took third place.

Matt Watts of Dade City took the win in the Manatee Lumber Modified Minis feature event. Steve Martin of Pinellas Park placed second. Ron Woodcock of Riverview took third place.

Jesse Dutilly of Bradenton claimed the win in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Stock Minis feature event. Syndee Brown of Bradenton placed second. Clay Joseph of Bradenton took third place.

Jason Reismann, 15, from Leesburg, stayed ahead of a half-dozen caution flags to take the win in the Legends 25-lap event. "I got ahead and tried not give them any slack," Reismann said. "I got oil on my tires or something, it's smoking bad. I could feel it coming out of the corners."

Reismann took the win over Legends' champion Rod Sanders of LaBelle. "I just had to start this race to win the Florida State championship," Sanders said. "In this car, we've run the same motor and tires all season long. If anyone is interested in driving one, they need to contact my car owner, Tom Piascik in Ft. Myers. The Legends are fun, affordable and a great group to race with."

-Ken Willis-

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